There is no price low enough for cheap airplane tickets, cheap vacation packages, or cheap discount hotel rooms to satisfy passengers stranded on runways in excess of three hours waiting for their plane to be authorized to depart; not knowing if or when they will ever get this authorization. JetBlue has requested that the DOT (Department of Transportation Department) temporarily exempt it from the new federally mandated runway delay limits at New Yorks JFK Airport while the airports largest runway is closed for repairs.
This runway closed March 1st and is expected to reopen in about four months.
To put an end to horrific tales of travelers being stranded on airport runways for extended periods of times, a new federal rule goes into effect the April 29th which, with a few exceptions, fines airlines up to $27,500 per passenger for any plane left on a runway for more than three hours. This fine could amount to as much as $3.5 million per stranded plane based on a completely filled Boeing 737.
JetBlue claims that it has taken several significant steps to minimize the impact of the closing of JFKs runway including initiating a reduction in planned flights and setting up guidelines for passenger comfort and convenience that are more demanding than current law.
JetBlue says this exemption is warranted to prevent JetBlue from being penalized if JFK becomes gridlocked at peak travel times due to the runway closure.
The airline has promised to inform passengers prior to boarding that significant delays may be faced and will make certain that each of its planes is stocked with enough food and beverages to take into account potential delays.
Delta Airlines has also requested a temporary exemption waiver be extended to Delta and other similarly situated carriers.
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